Some Faraway Place

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Some Faraway Place, the third Bright Sessions novel from creator Lauren Shippen, features Rose, who has her humdrum life flipped upside down when she starts to travel into dreams.

Rose’s mother can see the future. Her father can move things with his mind. Her brother, Aaron, can read thoughts. And Rose, well… she makes a mean spaghetti bolognese.

Everyone else in her family is Atypical, which means they manifested an ability that defies the limits of the human experience. At nineteen, well past the average age of manifestation, Rose is stuck defending her decision not to go to college and instead work in the kitchen of a local restaurant, hoping to gain the experience she needs to become a chef.

When a Rollerblading accident sends her to the hospital, she meets a girl she can’t forget, and she starts to feel like maybe her life isn’t quite so small. But when she starts falling asleep mid-conversation, only to find herself in other peoples’ dreams, she thinks, Then again maybe I’m doomed to never have good things.

Rose should be happy—diving into dreams makes her a part of her family in the way she’s always wanted. But the more time she spends in the dreamworld, the more complicated her ability becomes. Trying to balance her work, her power, and her girlfriend who doesn’t know about Atypicals, Rose seeks help. But she soon discovers that dreamdiving comes with dangers she never could have imagined. Even her carefully constructed dreamworld isn’t safe.

This is the story of Atypical Rose, who discovers that dreams coming true isn’t always a good thing.

Reviews

“Shippen continues to expand her fascinating universe…This entry contains everything that makes the universe of this world appealing, including sympathetic, complex characters; magic powers that cause more problems than they solve; and…diversity. A must-read for Bright Sessions fans.” —Kirkus Reviews

“A nice addition to a unique series.” —School Library Journal

Praise for the Bright Sessions Universe

“A gripping character drama with blockbuster-worthy plot twists.”

—The New York Times on The Bright Sessions podcast

“The Infinite Noise is a marvelous book about love, mental health, and connection. Lauren Shippen writes with a clean and honest warmth that is deeply refreshing, and her sharp representation of depression and anxiety rings true.” —Sarah Gailey, Hugo Award-winning author of When We Were Magic

“A queer love story for anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider. A thoughtful and tender exploration of mental health, it will make you want to go to therapy, whether you have superpowers or not.” —Britta Lundin, Riverdale screenwriter and author of Ship It on The Infinite Noise

“A deliciously dark, genre-bending look at the thrill and danger of intoxicating power. Shippen creates a world—and a family—that you’d do just about anything to be a part of.” —Charlotte Nicole Davis, author of The Good Luck Girls, on A Neon Darkness

“Shippen combines an exciting plot with diverse characters…This may be the best Bright Sessions content yet as well as an excellent starting point for those unfamiliar with this world. A creative and compelling read.” —Kirkus Reviews on A Neon Darkness

“A rich cast of secondary characters and gripping plot twists keep readers interested until the last page. Damien’s use of control to gain human connection and its moral implications will make readers question how far are they willing to go to get everything they desire. The story will leave readers thinking long after the last page is read.” —School Library Journal on A Neon Darkness

“A refreshing look at the superhero genre.” —The Advocate on The Infinite Noise

“[For fans of] Becky Albertalli’s Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, Rainbow Rowell’s work, and Welcome to Night Vale.” —School Library Journal on The Infinite Noise

“A warm, satisfying love story with depth.” —Kirkus Reviews on The Infinite Noise

“Shades of The X-Files and the HBO psychotherapy drama In Treatment, plus the youthful characters of a WB drama like Roswell or Smallville.” —Vox on The Bright Sessions podcast

“Part Professor X, part Sigmund Freud, Dr. Bright has a specialty: treating ‘the strange and unusual….’ Binge away an afternoon on Dr. Bright’s couch.” —WIRED on The Bright Sessions podcast

About the Author

LAUREN SHIPPEN, author of The Infinite Noise, is a writer best known for her work in fiction podcasts. She is the creator and sole writer of the popular audio drama, The Bright Sessions. She went on to executive produce The AM Archives and co-produce Passenger List before founding Atypical Artists, a company dedicated to audio storytelling. She wrote MARVELS, an audio adaptation of the popular comic, released in 2019 by Marvel and Stitcher. Lauren was named one of Forbes's 2018 30 Under 30 in Media and one of MovieMaker Magazine's and Austin Film Festival’s 25 Screenwriters to Watch. She was born in New York City and grew up in Bronxville, New York. She currently lives in Los Angeles but travels frequently to New York.

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Books By Lauren Shippen